Preliminary Studies on some promising Exotic Grasses for Fodder and soil Conservation in the Nilgiris

Abstract

The Nilgiris is characterised by vast stretch of rolling downs of grasslands con- sisting of various indigenous grasses. These rolling downs are commonly known as ' Wenlok Downs". These grasslands look green and fertile but consists of species which are mostly frost tender. Thus in the winter when the forage is in great demand these grasses are practically dry and do not provide any green forage. Few exotic grasses were introduced in the NILGIRIS by the British 50 to 70 years ago. Among them some have practically become indigenous. They are Dactylis glonzerata (Cock's foot grass), Antho- xanthwn odoratum (Sweet vernal grass) and Pennisetum Clandestinwn (Kikuyu grass) etc. (l) Taking advantage of this, some more exotic grasses were brought from Australia and U.S A. and were tried for their adapta- bility to this tract at the Soil Conservation Research, Demonstration and Training Centre, Ootacamund (Madras State). If found suitable, they could not only provide good amount of green forage during winter, being frost and drought resistant, but tlso help effective Soil Conservation at the time when rainfall is erratic and frost cuts most of the existing vegetation.